Leicester

Leicester's population expanded in the 10 years leading up to 2011. Data from the census also show there were changes in ethnicity, housing tenure and religion.

The population reached nearly 330,000

Between the last two censuses, the population of Leicester increased by 18%, from just under 280,000 to 330,000.

The addition of just under 50,000 people means this area's population was the fastest-growing in the East Midlands and increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Leicester was home to, on average, 32 people per football pitch-sized piece of land. This made it the East Midlands' most densely-populated unitary authority.

Population density was higher than the average across the East Midlands

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the East Midlands, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

A younger Leicester

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Leicester decreased by one year, from 32 to 31 years.

This urban area had the second-lowest average age in the East Midlands and remained younger than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The fall in age was because of an increase of just over 17,000 people between the ages of 20 and 29 years, while the population between 70 and 79 years decreased by just under 400.

About 20% of people in Leicester are aged between 20 and 29 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, East Midlands and Leicester by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Leicester

The number of people in Leicester from the White ethnic groups decreased from about 180,000 in 2001 to just under 170,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 64% to 51% of the local population.

The percentage decreased by more than the average across the East Midlands (from 93% to 89%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Leicester from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from just over 85,000 in 2001 to just over 120,000 in 2011 (from 30% to 37%). The number of residents from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups increased from just under 8,600 to about 21,000 (from 3.1% to 6.2%).

Just under 12,000 people (2.3%) said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), up from just over 6,500 in 2001 (3.5%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the ethnic profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between ethnic groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population from the White ethnic groups in Leicester decreased by 13 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East Midlands and Leicester by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Leicester that rented privately increased from 13% to 23% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in four (25%) households lived in social housing, compared with 28% in 2001. The percentage of Leicester households that owned their home decreased from 58% to 50%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased faster here than in any other local authority district across the East Midlands. As a result, this area had the region’s second highest proportion of privately rented homes.

Nottingham had the East Midlands' highest proportion of privately rented homes (23%), while Lincoln had the region's third highest proportion (21%).

Private renting in Leicester increased by 10 percentage points

Percentage of households in Leicester, the East Midlands and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Leicester

The number of people in Leicester that described themselves as having no religion increased from just under 49,000 in 2001 to just over 75,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 17% to 23% of the local population.

The percentage increased by less than the average across the East Midlands (from 16% to 27%) and the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Leicester that described themselves as Christian decreased from just under 130,000 in 2001 to about 110,000 in 2011 (from 45% to 32%). The number of people who described themselves as Muslim increased from about 31,000 to about 61,000 (from 11% to 19%).

About 50,000 people (15%) said they were Hindu, up from about 41,000 in 2001 (15%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between religious groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population without a religion in Leicester increased by 5.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East Midlands and Leicester by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Living alone in Leicester

Leicester saw the East Midlands' largest fall in the proportion of one-person households.

In 2011, just over 3 in 10 (30%) households in Leicester had only one person, compared with 33% in 2001. The percentage of households comprising an unmarried couple increased from 8.0% to 8.5%.

Across the region, Nottingham saw the next largest decrease in the proportion of one-person households (from 38% in 2001 to 36% in 2011).

The percentage of households with only one person was higher than across the East Midlands

Percentage of households that comprised only one person across local authority areas in the East Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

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